In a matter of hours, torrential rains swept through Kerr County, Texas, unleashing a historic flood that claimed more than 120 lives. Among the dead were children, parents, counselors, and grandparents whose stories now serve as painful reminders of lives interrupted and families forever changed. Behind the rising waters were stories of heroism, heartbreak, and love—told in whispers, tears, and final embraces.
Julian Ryan, a 27-year-old father of two, died a hero. As floodwaters crashed into his trailer, he broke a window to save his fiancée, children, and mother. His arm was slashed by glass, severing an artery. As the water rose and no help arrived, he told his family, “I love you,” before dying in his mother’s arms. “He went out a hero,” his sister said.
At Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls camp, the floodwaters came violently, ripping buildings apart. Twenty-seven campers and counselors died, including camp director Dick Eastland, who perished trying to save others. Among the lost were joyful, bright young girls like Hadley Hanna, Virginia Wynne Naylor, Mary Barrett Stevens, Renee Smajstrla, Eloise Peck, and others, their lives cut short while seeking summer fun and spiritual growth. Eastland’s death was called a final act of heroism by staff who knew him well.
Blair and Brooke Harber, 13 and 11, were found holding each other downstream, clutching rosaries in their final moments. Staying with their grandparents near the Guadalupe River, the sisters embodied faith and courage. Their school described them as gifted, energetic, and deeply loved. Their parents survived the flood; their grandparents remain missing.
Jane Ragsdale, the beloved director of Heart O’ the Hills Camp, was also lost. Known as the heart and soul of the camp, she had influenced generations of young women. Her last video showed her strumming a guitar, singing about joy and resilience. “Keep singing till we meet again,” she had said.
The flood also took married couple Reece and Paula Zunker, leaving their two children unaccounted for. Reece, a high school soccer coach, was remembered as a mentor and role model. Dr. Katheryn Eads, a psychologist and former foster care advocate, died while visiting the area. Her daughter called her life “fulfilling, cut far too short.”
Holly Frizzell, 72, adored mornings by the river. After losing her husband to dementia, she became a quiet advocate for others in need. Her obituary remembered her as magnetic and deeply loved by her grandchildren. Chloe Childress, 19, a Camp Mystic counselor, had just graduated high school and was set to attend UT Austin. She died serving others.
The loss continued with Bill Venus, a 33-year Army veteran who spent his life helping others. His son called him a man whose legacy would be honored in every act of service. And among the youngest victims was 20-month-old Clay Parisher, who died after floodwaters overtook his family’s Fourth of July celebration.
This was not just a disaster. It was a human catastrophe. Each name was a light—snuffed out too soon. But in their stories, their final acts, and their lasting love, Texas remembers. And promises never to forget.
